Christian Horner told of permanent solution to Sergio Perez headache involving driver swap

Red Bull and Christian Horner should replace the stalling with -bound Carlos Sainz, says Juan Pablo Montoya. Partnering Max Verstappen is no easy job, but Perez has hit hurdle after hurdle to this Formula One season - one that will all but certainly see his Dutch peer claim a fourth Drivers' Championship title.

Though Red Bull have remained staunch in their determination to keep Perez next term, many have called for the Mexican, who hasn't graced a podium since Shanghai in April, to be ousted.

One of those is former Williams and McLaren driver Montoya, who feels there is a perfect candidate for the role, Sainz. Despite the Spaniard penning a multi-year deal with his former employers in July, Montoya feels that the emergence of Franco Colapinto, who replaced Logan Sargeant earlier this campaign, is enough of an incentive for this proposed deal to gain wheels.

"If I were Horner, I would go to Williams and tell them: 'If you are happy with Colapinto, keep him and give me Carlos Sainz'," Montoya told .

Since being promoted in August, Colapinto has been a hit for Williams. He claimed points in only his second race and continues to impress. However, the British team have already confirmed their drivers for next year in Sainz and Alex Albon, meaning that, as it stands, Colapinto will be without a seat.

Reported negotiations have been ongoing between the Argentinian and Red Bull, as they have the last unconfirmed seat with sister team RB, but Liam Lawson, who had , is another likely option for said seat.

In Montoya's eyes, the solution to quite a complicated driver merry-go-round is simple: coax Sainz away from Williams, leaving them with the impressive Colapinto, and solve the Perez problem - which he thinks won't go away with a rookie acquisition.

He continued: "Why risk replacing Checo [in the future], an experienced driver who has won races, to put a rookie next to Max? Max does not fail. Knowing Carlos, he will have told Williams that he has signed for them, but if he doesn't win or get podiums, he can leave if he receives another offer.

"[Red Bull] could tell Williams: 'You can lose Carlos now or in a year. Now you would have money, in a year you won't.' That is the move I would make if I were Red Bull. I would go for Carlos."

The one issue that Montoya feels could throw a spanner into the audacious Sainz raid would be Perez himself, as the 34-year-old, whose contract with Red Bull expires in 2026, will be difficult to supplant.

"The problem is that Checo insists that he will continue there, and I also believe that he will continue on the grid next year; although I think they want to get him out of there, I don't think he will just give up," Montoya added. "Checo is being pushed to the limit, it's not easy for him.

"He's in a horrible position because I think everyone wants him out. Whether he deserves it, I don't know. We don't know what happens behind closed doors, but a lot of people are trying to get another driver in that car."